Variable-line-spacer mechanism for type-writers.



H. M. MOTZKUS. VARIABLE LINE SPACER MECHANISM FOR TYP'EWRITE'RS.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29. I915.

1, 181,680. lzltvntvd May 3, 1916.

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HENRY MARTIN MOTZKUS, O F-LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

VARIABLE-LINE-SPACER MECHANISM FOR TYPE- WRITERS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed March 29, 1915. Serial N 0. 17,626.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY MARTIN MOTZKUS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in VariableLineSpacer Mechanism for Type- WVriters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in mechanism for typewriter platens, and pertains especially to mechanism for moving the platen so that variable line spacing may be obtained.

Typewriters having platens for paper which move the paper by rotating the platen ordinarily offer no means of variably adjusting the spacing except by movement of the paper relative to the platen surface. A ratchet Wheel is generally -connected to the platen and a dog mounted upon the carriage for rotating the platen and spacing the lines; such construction fixes the distance through which the paper is moved in spacing the lines. I have provided means whereby the platen can be rotated any desired amount relative to the ratchet wheel, such mechanism permits any spacing be tween lines at the will of the operator, and succeeding lines to be automatically spaced from the line which has been variably spaced.

It is an object of my invention to provide a variable line spacing mechanism operated by a friction clutch which normally holds the platen in engagementr with the ratchet wheel mechanism, but whichmay be released therefrom by moving one of the knobs of the platen shaft and thereby to produce variable spacing.

It is anotherobject of my invention to provide a variable line spacing mechanism which will not cause the platen to be disengaged by the carriage striking any staillustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a platen equipped with my variable spacer. F ig. 2 15 an enlarged view showing in section a preferred form of my variable line spacing mechanism, the platen being shown broken. Fig. 3 is an enlarged section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 4, showing the clutch expand ing arms. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the clutch mechanism of my preferred form. Fig. 5 is a plan view with parts in section, showing a modified form. Fig. 6 is a view illustrating the lock used to maintain the platen in released position.

More specifically, 7 and 8 indicate the carriage bearings for the platen shaft 9. Secured-to one end of the platen shaft is a knob 10. A tubular member 11 is loosely mounted over shaft 9 and has a knob 12 secured to one end. Tubular member 11 is mounted in bearing 7. Mounted upon tubular member 11 is a hollow cylinder 13 to which is fixedly secured platen roll 46 and which carries at one end an enlarged drum 14. The exterior wall of drum 14 is threaded as indicated at 15 and adapted to receive a cap 16 having an aperture 17 therein.

A drum 18, cylindrical in form and adapt ed to fit loosely within drum 14, is held in place by cap 16. Drum 18 abutsa-spider 53 which is provided with slots 19, 20, 21 and 22 which are adapted to receive the radially expanding arms 23, 24, 25 and 26. Each arm has a pivot pin as indicated at 27 and 28, the pins resting within the pin slots in the spider 53, which is secured by any convenient means to drum 14. Arms 23, 24, 25 and 26 are of bell crank formtubular member 11 and preferably integral therewith. A spring of spiral form 32, engages cup 31 and the end wall of cylinder 13, normally pressing the cup against the clutch expanding arms, forcing the long arms in toward the shaft and their clutch engaging portion against the drum 14.

Clutch drum 18 has a boss provided Patented May 2, 1916.

with diametrically disposed slots 34 and 35 cut therein and adapted to receive lugs on the hub 36 of the ratchet wheel 37. A set screw 38 is provided in the hub 36, whereb the ratchet wheel 37 may be secured to sha t 8 as shown. A shoulder 39 is secured on tubular member 11 and is preferably integral therewith. Look 40 is secured to the carriage and adapted to cooperate with shoulder 39, to hold the platen out of engagement with the ratchet Wheel mechanism. Lock 40 comprises a member 41 having an aperture in which the tubular member 11 slidingly fits and which is secured to the carriage by set screw 42. Pivoted upon member 41 by pivot screw 43 is a locking jaw 44 which is pressed into engagement with tubular member 11 by means of a spiral spring 45 connected at one end to jaw 44 and at the other to the carriage. In Fig. 6 the full lines show the normal position of members 41 and 44 of lock 40, and the shoulder 39, and the dotted line shows the locking position of jaw 44. In the unlocked position shoulder 39abuts member 41, and in the locked position shoulder 39 abuts jaw 44. The shoulder 39 may be released from the locking position by pulling jaw 44 away from the shaft, a lug 48 being provided on the jaw for convenient engagement of the same by the operator.

In the operation of my platen, if it is desired to variably space the lines of the paper, knob 12 is grasped and pulled to the left; tubular member 11 moves longitudinally and moves cup 31 against the pressure of spring 13, thereby permitting the disengagement of arms 23, 24, 25 and 26 from frictional contact with drum 18. The platen and paper may now be moved by grasping cap 16 and rotating it, the platen being fixedly secured to cylinder 13 and rotatably mounted upon tubular member 11, a bearing 49 for tubular member 11 being shown secured to the platen. Releasing knob 12,

shoulder 39 moves beyond jaw 44, the jaw moving toward the shaft, engaging the side of the shoulder, looking it and preventing the tubular member 11' from moving to the To unlock the releasing mechanism right. jaw 44 is pulled away from tubular member 11, allowing the shoulder 39 to ass over the jaw and abut the member 41. pring 13 forces cup 31 against the arms 23, 24, 25 and 26, ex andin them against drum 18.

In ig. 5 have shown a modified form, in which instead of a clutch having radially expanding arms, I have used a cone friction clutch. Upon tubular member 11 I mount a conicalclutch member 50 which engages a conical recess 51 in cup 18. A spring 23 normally maintains the clutch member 50 in engagement with the cup 18. I have shown the shaft 9' extended and having a knob 52 secured thereto. Tubular member 11 is shown with a knob 12' secured thereto. The knobs 52 and 12 provide a convenient means for releasing theclutch, knob 52 being stationary relative to knob 12, so that the thumb may be placed upon knob 52 and the fingers upon knob 12 and the knob 12 moved toward knob 52. The modified form of my variable line spacer is used in the same manner as the preferred form.

My variable line spacer mechanism is especially valuable where ruled paper or cards are used. The paper may be adjusted by releasing the platen and rotating it so that a line is brought into the exact position for writing, the platen is then secured and the line spacing thereafter.is automatically performed by the ratchet. It is also valuable where the spacing between lines does not conform to the automatic spacing of the ratchet, and also to secure the paper where it is down to the last line of the page, thereby preventing jumping of the paper.

What I claim is 2- 1. A variable line spacing mechanism, comprising the combination with a platen carriage, of a shaft; a clutch drum; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; a tubular member slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft; a hollow platen ro tatably mounted on said clutch drum; clutch mechanism operatively secured to said tubular member, fixedly secured to said platen and disposed for engagement with said clutch drum; and means for normally holding, said clutch mechanism in engagement with said clutch drum.

2. A variable line spacing mechanism comprising the combination with a platen carriage of a shaft; a hollow platen; a clutch drum disposed within said platen; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; clutch mechanism pivotally secured to and within said platen for engagement with said clutch drum; a member fixedly secured to said platen and rotatably mount ed on said shaft for expanding said clutch mechanism; and a spring for norma-llyh'olding said clutch mechanism in engagement with said clutch drum.

3. A variable line spacing mechanism, comprising the combination with a platen carriage, of a shaft; a clutch drum; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; a tubular member slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a cup at the inner end; a hollow platen rotatably secured to said clutch drum; clutch arms pivotally secured to said hollow platen, disposed for engagement at one end with said cup and at the other end with saidwith said clutch drum.

4. A variable line spacing mechanism, comprising the combination with a platen carriage, of a shaft; a tubular member slidably and rotatably mounted on said shaft, a shoulder thereon; a clutch drum; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; a hollow platen rotatably secured to said clutch drum; clutch mechanism operatively secured to said tubular member, fixedly 's,e-' cured to said platen and disposed for engagement with said clutch drum; means for normally holding said clutch mechanism in engagement with said clutch drum; and a pivoted latch mounted on said carriage for engagement with the shoulder on said tubular member.

5. A variable line spacing mechanism, comprising the combination with a platen carriage, of a shaft;a hollow platen; a clutch drum disposed within said platen; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; clutch mechanism pivotally secured to and within said platen for engagement with said clutch drum; a tubular member rotatably and slidably mounted in said platen and rotatably and slidably mounted on said shaft for expanding said clutch mechanism, a shoulder on said tubular member; a spring for normally holding said clutch mechanism in engagement with said clutch drum; and a pivoted latch mounted on said carriage for engagement with the shoulder on said tubular member.

6. A variable line spacing mechanism, comprising the combination with a platen carriage, of a shaft; a clutch drum; means for securing said clutch drum to said shaft; a hollow platen; a tubular member rotatably and slidably mounted in said platen, slidably rotatably mounted on said shaft and provided with a cup at its inner end, a shoulder on said tubular member; clutch arms pivotally secured to said hollow platen disposed for engagement at one end with said cup and at the other end with said clutch drum; means for normally holding said clutch mechanism in engagement with said clutch drum; and a pivoted latch member mounted on said carriage for engagegient with the shoulder on said tubular mem- In witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 10th day of March. 1915. 1

HENRY MARTIN MOTZKUS.

Witnesses:

ERNEST L. lVALLAoE, MARGUERITE BATES. 

